The Great Khali
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Dalip Singh  | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 27, 1972 Dhirana, Himachal Pradesh |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Giant Singh The Great Khali |
| Billed height | 221 cm (7 ft 3 in) |
| Billed weight | 190 kg (420 lb) |
| Billed from | Punjab, India |
| Trained by | APW Boot Camp |
| Debut | October 7, 2000 |
Dalip Singh (born August 27, 1972) is an Indian wrestler and actor, better known by his ringname The Great Khali. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand. Before embarking on his professional sports career, Singh was an officer in the Punjab state police, a champion bodybuilder, and a Pehlwan athlete.
Early career
Under the ring name "Giant Singh", Dalip Singh became a pro wrestler for All Pro Wrestling in the United States of America, making his first appearance in October 2000, when teaming with Tony Jones against the West Side Playaz 2000.
On May 28, 2001, Brian Ong volunteered to receive a flapjack from Singh. Singh did this move with two others in the gym that night, including one of the trainers, so Ong could see how it was done. Ong botched receiving the move, as he grabbed Singh's shirt instead of pushing off his back as the coaches had instructed him. He landed wrong and incurred a severe injury. Ong had suffered a previous concussion, and this second concussion ultimately proved fatal for him. As Singh inadvertently caused his death, Ong's family brought a lawsuit against All Pro Wrestling and were awarded damages of over $1.3 million.[1]
New Japan Pro Wrestling
In August 2001, Singh was brought into New Japan Pro Wrestling by Team 2000 leader, Masahiro Chono, along with another big man, Giant Silva. They were the tallest tag team in pro-wrestling history at an average height of 7 ft 2 in, and a combined weight of 805 lb. The two teamed for the first time at the Tokyo Dome in October, labeled "Club 7" by Chono, and they defeated Yutaka Yoshie, Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Wataru Inoue in a Handicap Match when Silva pinned Tanahashi and Inoue at the same time. Singh suffered his first loss in a tag match at the Tokyo Dome in January 2002, being cradled by Hiroyoshi Tenzan. He suffered another big tag defeat during March, being pinned by Manabu Nakanishi, and falling to a German suplex hold. His most critical loss came in August at Tokyo Nippon Budokan though, when, after a falling out, he was pinned by Silva in a singles match.
World Wrestling Entertainment
SmackDown!
On January 2, 2006, Singh was signed to a contract by WWE and assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory for training. With Daivari by his side, the un-named Singh debuted on WWE television on the April 7, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, attacking The Undertaker and leaving him out cold during his match with Mark Henry, and thus causing a no-contest.
The next week he was introduced as "The Great Khali". Daivari explained that he now finally had a client that would destroy the Undertaker (after Muhammed Hassan and Mark Henry had failed previously). Khali made his in-ring debut on the April 21, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Funaki.
On the May 5, 2006 edition of SmackDown, Khali signed a contract to face The Undertaker at Judgment Day on May 21, 2006. Later that night, he interrupted a WWE Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contender's Triple Threat Match between Super Crazy, Kid Kash and Nunzio, and attacked all three men, as well as Vito.
On the May 12, 2006 edition of SmackDown, JBL put Khali against then World Champion Rey Mysterio. Khali had a height advantage of almost two feet and a weight advantage of 250 pounds, and gained an easy victory over Mysterio. In his match against The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2006, Khali landed a series of blows on his opponent, and finally defeated The Undertaker with a kick to the head. Khali continued on a rampage for several weeks, winning handicap matches, beating superstars up in a display of power, and mocking the Undertaker's signature pin and victory pose.
He also helped The Big Show beat down the Undertaker (who was challenging Show for the ECW World Championship) with a Double Chokeslam through the announcer's table, continuing his feud with The Undertaker.
Khali then challenged the Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison Match, and the two were scheduled to meet in such a match at The Great American Bash, but Khali was removed from the match due to elevated liver enzymes and replaced by The Big Show. (In the storyline, Theodore Long replaced Khali with Big Show as punishment for an attack on The Undertaker shortly before the match.)
Khali later received a clean bill of health, and the August 4, 2006 episode of SmackDown would see Khali being challenged by The Undertaker to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam. However, the match was moved to the SmackDown just prior to SummerSlam. On the August 18, 2006 episode of SmackDown, The Undertaker defeated Khali after hitting him with the steel steps, and following it up with several chair-shots to the head (which cut Khali's forehead open) and a chokeslam. After the match, a profusely bleeding Khali was administered nine stitches to the forehead to close the gash. This marked Khali's first ever WWE defeat.
On August 29, 2006, it was reported that Khali would be out of action for several months due to surgery on both knees. By October of that year news came that Khali would return, along with Daivari, to WWE to join its revived ECW brand.[2]
ECW
On the October 31, 2006 edition of ECW, Khali and his manager Daivari made their on-screen debuts, with Daivari defeating Shannon Moore, while Khali took on the reverse role as Daivari's manager for the match. Khali then assaulted Moore after the match. Khali continued manhandling Daivari's opponents after Daivari had defeated them.
Khali would then engage in a feud with Tommy Dreamer, who was defeated by Daivari at December to Dismember 2006. After the match, Khali Chokebombed Dreamer on the steel stage. Dreamer would then have a match with Daivari on the day after the PPV. Dreamer won the match, but then Khali chokebombed him on top of a steel chair. The next week, Dreamer called out Khali, but Daivari answered the challenge instead. Once again, Dreamer won the match, but then Khali chokebombed him on the padded floor outside the ring.
On the December 19, 2006 edition of ECW, Daivari had challenged Shannon Moore to a match, but instead, Khali faced Moore in his first match in ECW. Khali easily defeated Moore, but it was on a disqualifaction. Tommy Dreamer came in and hit Daivari with a steel chair. Tommy tried to attack Khali with the chair, but ended up getting punched with the chair in front of his face, Irish whipped into the steel steps, and chokebombed onto the steps. Khali then walked back to the locker room with Daivari. He would feud with Tommy Dreamer until the Jan 9 2007 edition of ECW where he would defeat Dreamer in an extreme rules match, which was Khali's last ECW match.
RAW
On the January 8, 2007, episode of RAW, Jonathan Coachman announced that Khali's contract with ECW had expired, he had signed with RAW (without his manager Daivari), and would battle John Cena in the main event. Khali won by disqualification after Cena took a steel chair held by Armando Alejandro Estrada and hit Khali with it. After the match, Khali chokebombed Cena to the mat and left the ringside area, leaving Cena prone to an attack by Umaga.
On the February 23, 2007 episode of SmackDown! Khali interfered in a Falls Count Anywhere, Money In The Bank qualifying match between Kane and King Booker by ramming Kane through the barricade, costing Kane the match, and starting a feud between the two. In his first WrestleMania appearance, The Great Khali defeated Kane with a two handed chokebomb at WrestleMania 23.
Filmography
In 2005, Singh starred in the film The Longest Yard as Turley, one of the prison's inmates. On March 16 2007 it was announced that Singh is set to begin shooting Get Smart, a movie based on the 1960s classic TV show, along side The Rock[3]
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
Personal information
Dalip Singh was born in the village of Dhirana in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India, the third of eight children in the Rana family. At the age of 10, Dalip began to show signs of unusual rapid height growth as his height was measured at 185 cm at the age of 10 yrs. Once he was 15 yrs old, Dalip began weight training and his height was measured at 220 centimeters. In 1993, Singh was working in the Himalaya hills when his life's circumstances began to change. By this time he had tried his hand at many sports. He excelled in all of them, but showed exceptional talent in bodybuilding. The Director General of the Punjab Police Department took notice of Dalip and helped him join the police force. The change in employment allowed Singh to further his body building training and he subsequently won titles of Mr. India from 1995 through 96, inclusive. He had also worked for an indian resturant Malibar Hill in 2005-2006.[citation needed]
Dalip Singh's goal in life is to support his family and aid the entire village that is his home. He is an active mentor to young people in Punjab, encouraging them to stay away from drugs and urging them to find discipline, health and success by taking up sports.[citation needed]
He married Harminder Kaur on February 27,2002.
On September 6, 2006, Khali was suspended from the Punjab Police Department as a result of his absence and time spent working with WWE, but was reinstated within hours.[4]
References
- ^ Hershlaw.com (second article on page)
- ^ Four SmackDown Stars Moving To ECW
- ^ WWE.com - Khali ready to make giant mark on Hollywood
- ^ Telugu Portgual Article on Khali